Food delivery system

ABSTRACT

A food delivery system providing food containers adapted to be stackable in a compact, stable configuration is provided. Each food container may be adapted to prevent airborne contamination of its contents through the operative engagement of a body portion and a cooperating lid, wherein the lid and body portion provide cooperating peripheral flanges that seal off the contents contained within a recess of the body portion. The cooperating lid may also provides a recessed base portion stackably receive the body portion of an identical food container. Within the recess of the body portion a plurality of dividers may be provided to provide lateral stability to a stacked configuration of a plurality of food containers. The body portion provides dolly slots for selectively engaging an adapted hand dolly for moving entire stacked configurations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/114,376, filed 10 Feb. 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to food delivery systems and, more particularly, to a food delivery system providing food containers adapted to be stackable in a compact, stable configuration, wherein each food container is adapted to prevent airborne contamination of its contents.

Many container designs have been developed for protecting foodstuffs during transportation. A particular problem during transportation is efficiently utilizing storage space in a stable and safe manner.

Current food delivery systems waste valuable cargo bay space, especially because many of them required the use of a separate rack to prevent a plurality of stacked containers from being displaced during transportation, as they otherwise tend to be top heavy and thus dangerous. Furthermore, current food delivery systems are not sufficiently adapted to prevent airborne contamination, insects and dirty air from reaching the food stuff or product in the container. They are also very loud.

As can be seen, there is a need for a food delivery system providing food containers adapted to be stackable in a compact, stable configuration, wherein each food container is adapted to prevent airborne contamination of its contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a stackable delivery system having a food container includes a body having a side wall and a bottom wall defining a recess, wherein a peripheral body flange is perpendicularly joined along the side wall; a cooperating lid having a recessed base portion defined by a raised ridge, wherein a peripheral lid flange is perpendicularly joined along the raised ridge, wherein the peripheral lid flange is at least coextensive with the peripheral body flange during a sealing engagement of both peripheral flanges, and wherein the recessed base portion and the raised ridge are dimensioned to slidably receive a bottom wall and a portion of a sidewall of an identical food container; and a plurality of diametrically opposing divider notches provided by the side wall.

In another aspect of the present invention, the stackable delivery system, includes a food container having a body having a side wall and a bottom wall defining a recess, wherein a peripheral body flange is perpendicularly joined along the side wall, and wherein the side wall provides a plurality of dolly slots; a cooperating lid having a recessed base portion defined by a raised ridge, wherein a peripheral lid flange is perpendicularly joined along the raised ridge, wherein the peripheral lid flange is at least coextensive with the peripheral body flange during a sealing engagement of both peripheral flanges, and wherein the recessed base portion and the raised ridge are dimensioned to slidably receive a bottom wall and a portion of a sidewall of an identical food container; a plurality of diametrically opposing divider notches provided by the side wall; a plurality of diametrically opposing corner chambers defined by the side wall and bottom wall, wherein each corner chamber circumscribes at least one flow hole disposed in the bottom wall; a tube nozzle provided by the cooperating lid, wherein the tube nozzle and the at least one flow hole can be aligned during the sealing engagement, and wherein the cooperating lid provides a centrally disposed exhaust port; a plurality of dividers, wherein opposing ends of each of the plurality of dividers are adapted to removably connect between two of the plurality of diametrically opposing divider notches, and wherein each divider provides a plurality of apertures; a treated air supplier having a flow tube for fluidly communicating with the tube nozzle; and at least one identical food container, wherein the at least one identical food container provides ventilation holes in the bottom wall, whereby the food containers and the at least one identical food containers are movable into a stackable configuration.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown with a cooperating lid removed;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a detail perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 1, and shown in a stacked configuration;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in a stacked configuration;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a section detail view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a food delivery system providing food containers adapted to be stackable in a compact, stable configuration, wherein each food container is adapted to prevent airborne contamination of its contents.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 13, the present invention may include a food delivery system 100 having a plurality of food containers 10, 38, including a non-respiring container 10 and a respiring container 38. Each food container 10 or 38 is in the form of a lower body 12, 40 and a cooperating lid 22, 58 respectively. Each lower body 12, 40 and cooperating lid 22, 58 provide a periphery body flange 14, 42 and a peripheral lid flange 82, 80, respectively, that are adapted to have substantially matching peripheral dimensions so that when each body and cooperating lid are operatively engaged the associated peripheral flanges form a sealing engagement by being at least coextensive or wherein the peripheral lid flange extends beyond the periphery of the overlapped associated peripheral body flange, thereby providing a finger-hold for removing the lid from the body, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 8, 10 and 13. The sealing engagement is adapted to prevent airborne contaminants, insects or dirty air from accessing the recess 15. As a result, the shape and/or plan outline of the bodies and cooperating lids may be any shape or plan outline so long as the peripheral flanges function in accordance with the present invention as described herein. Similarly, the size of the bodies may vary as a function of the foodstuff they are to accommodate.

Each body may define a recess 15 defined by a bottom wall 17 and downwardly convergent side walls 19. The side walls 19 and/or peripheral body flanges 14, 42 may provide a plurality of diametrically opposed divider notches 16, 44. In certain embodiments, the bottom wall 17 may provide a plurality of ventilation holes 20, 48, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 13, respectively. The side walls 19 may provide at a plurality of ventilations 18, 48. The ventilations 18, 48 may be dimensioned and adapted to slidably receive a hand cart blade (not shown) so that an entire stacked configurations 34, 76 can be selectively engaged quietly moved via a hand truck, dolly or the like.

In certain embodiments, each body 40 of the respiring container 38 may provide diametrically opposed corner chambers 50 into which the bottom wall 17 and a concomitant recess space is provided, as illustrated in FIGS. 10-13. Each corner chambers 50 may be generally defined by an incongruous portion of the side wall 19 forming a protrusion-like shape, in that the side wall 19 associated with the corner chamber is increases the surface area of the recess 15. The bottom wall 17 may provide at least one flow hole 52 circumscribed by the concomitant recess space. In the same embodiment of the respiring container 38, the cooperating lid 58 may provide a tube nozzle 60 fluidly communicating with the associated corner chambers 50, when the cooperating lid 58 and body 40 are operatively engaged. In some embodiments, the tube nozzle 60 and the at least one flow hole 52 align vertically. In some embodiments, the cooperating lid 58 provides a centrally disposed exhaust port 62 having a filter 64. Each flow hole 52 may be dimensioned and adapted to slidably receive the tube nozzle 60 of the cooperating lid 58 of an identical food container 38,

Each lid may provide a stepped down base portion 24 or 72 defined along a periphery by a raised peripheral ridge 32, 54, respectively. The base portions and peripheral ridges may be dimensioned to snugly receive the bottom wall 17 and a portion of the side walls 19 of an identical body, forming a stacked configuration 34, 76 of at least two identical bodies, as illustrated in FIGS. 8-10 and 13.

The present invention may provide a plurality of dividers 26 that terminate in opposing divider connectors 28. The plurality of dividers 26 may be adapted to provide lateral stability to the stacked configurations 34, 76, preventing them from laterally displacing and thus overturning or tipping during transportation. Each divider connectors 28 may be adapted to removably connect to the divider notches 16, 44, so as to define a plurality of storage compartments within the recess 15. Each divider 26 may have a plurality of spaced apart apertures 30 that fluidly communicate adjacent storage compartments.

Referring to FIG. 13, the food delivery system 100 may include an adaptor 68 and humidifier 68 having a flow tube 70 for operatively engaging a tube nozzle 60 for supplying treated air 74 therethrough and into the at least one food containers 10, 38, and through the stacked configuration 34, 76 via the plurality of apertures 30 and ventilation holes 20, 48, and as a result, exhaust air 78 may exit the exhaust port 62.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The plurality of food containers 10, 38 disclosed above may be provided. A user would load each of the plurality of food containers 10, 38 with the dividers 26, as needed. Then the user may load the recess 15 and/or plurality of storage compartments therein with product/food stuff and then place the appropriate cooperating lid 22, 58 so as to operatively engage the associated body. Then the user may stack the plurality of food containers 10, 38 into the stacked configuration 34, 76, respectively, whereby the resulting stacks may be moved and loaded with a dolly or hand cart which they have been specifically designed for. As a result, two of the current carts/food rack delivery systems, side by side, house approximately a total of forty food containers, as compared to one stack of the present invention which would hold eighty-four food containers 10, 38 within the same storage space.

Also, the user may form a small stacked configuration to use as a step stool for when needing to un-stack taller stacked configurations.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A stackable delivery system, comprising: a food container comprising: a body having a side wall and a bottom wall defining a recess, wherein a peripheral body flange is perpendicularly joined along the side wall; a cooperating lid having a recessed base portion defined by a raised ridge, wherein a peripheral lid flange is perpendicularly joined along the raised ridge, wherein the peripheral lid flange is at least coextensive with the peripheral body flange during a sealing engagement of both peripheral flanges, and wherein the recessed base portion and the raised ridge are dimensioned to slidably receive a bottom wall and a portion of a sidewall of an identical food container; and a plurality of diametrically opposing divider notches provided by the side wall.
 2. The stackable delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of dividers, wherein opposing ends of each of the plurality of dividers are adapted to removably connect between two of the plurality of diametrically opposing divider notches.
 3. The stackable delivery system of claim 1, wherein each body further comprises diametrically opposing corner chambers defined by the side wall and bottom wall.
 4. The stackable delivery system of claim 3, wherein each corner chamber circumscribes at least one flow hole disposed in the bottom wall.
 5. The stackable delivery system of claim 4, wherein the cooperating lid provides a tube nozzle, wherein the tube nozzle and the at least one flow hole can be aligned during the sealing engagement, and wherein the cooperating lid provides a centrally disposed exhaust port.
 6. The stackable delivery system of claim 5, further comprising a treated air supplier having a flow tube for fluidly communicating with the tube nozzle.
 7. The stackable delivery system of claim 6, at least one identical food container, wherein the at least one identical food container provides ventilation holes in the bottom wall.
 8. The stackable delivery system of claim 7, wherein each divider provides a plurality of apertures.
 9. The stackable delivery system of claim 1, wherein the side wall provides a plurality of dolly slots.
 10. A stackable delivery system, comprising: a food container comprising: a body having a side wall and a bottom wall defining a recess, wherein a peripheral body flange is perpendicularly joined along the side wall, and wherein the side wall provides a plurality of dolly slots; a cooperating lid having a recessed base portion defined by a raised ridge, wherein a peripheral lid flange is perpendicularly joined along the raised ridge, wherein the peripheral lid flange is at least coextensive with the peripheral body flange during a sealing engagement of both peripheral flanges, and wherein the recessed base portion and the raised ridge are dimensioned to slidably receive a bottom wall and a portion of a sidewall of an identical food container; a plurality of diametrically opposing divider notches provided by the side wall; a plurality of diametrically opposing corner chambers defined by the side wall and bottom wall, wherein each corner chamber circumscribes at least one flow hole disposed in the bottom wall; a tube nozzle provided by the cooperating lid, wherein the tube nozzle and the at least one flow hole can be aligned during the sealing engagement, and wherein the cooperating lid provides a centrally disposed exhaust port; a plurality of dividers, wherein opposing ends of each of the plurality of dividers are adapted to removably connect between two of the plurality of diametrically opposing divider notches, and wherein each divider provides a plurality of apertures; a treated air supplier having a flow tube for fluidly communicating with the tube nozzle; and at least one identical food container, wherein the at least one identical food container provides ventilation holes in the bottom wall, whereby the food containers and the at least one identical food containers are movable into a stackable configuration. 